It’s not uncommon for me to fall asleep at my laptop, chin collapsed against my chest. Wife and traveling buddies have laughed repeatedly at the sight. After Ryder Cup week, especially the one we had, I feel that way as I begin this Tour Rundown.

Shoulder seasons are always interesting for professional tournament coverage. Not every tour has ramped up its play, and some have ramped it down for the year. The events that are played mean a lot to the communities they serve, and to the players who need to certify their place on the money list. For those reasons, they mean a lot to us. This week’s TR includes a Champions Tour event from last week. We hope that you enjoy it and that your Ryder Cup hangover is not nearly as crushing as mine!

European Tour: Dunhill Links to Willett by two

A couple of IFS to begin this segment: if an event is played at The Old Course, it automatically leads. If a golfer is the only one to shoot four rounds in the 60s (barring an annihilation and one-round hiccough by another competitor) said golfer wins. Now that that’s over with, let’s talk about the Dunhill Links championship, which featured two of four rounds at St. Andrews Old, and Danny Willett, the only golfer to sign card for four rounds in the 60s. Wait a second…we already did. Kudos to Willett on his first victory in two years, and his eighth overall. The Englishman’s brilliance at Augusta in 2016 left us wanting more majors, and perhaps at age 34, number two might be on the horizon. Today’s his birthday and this trophy is quite a present. Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren and England’s Tyrrell Hatton came second at 16-under, two back of Willett

Two holes to go.
Two shots clear. @Danny_Willett is looking to become the first man to win on his birthday on the European Tour since Ernie Els at the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship.#DunhillLinks pic.twitter.com/PJ1N1Qp2Ky

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 3, 2021

PGA Tour: Sanderson Farms Championship claimed by Burns in late going

If you’ve never listened to Jackson, by Mrs. and Mr. Cash, take the time to click the link below. Howza come? Well, they just finished up a tournament in Jackson, MS today, and depending on which Cash you believe, Sam Burns was either a “big-talking man” or the fellow who “teach’em what they don’t know how.” We think it’s the later. Burns waited for the front-runners to cool down and then, hotter than a pepper sprout, he made his move. Birdies at 11, then 13 through 15, shoved him past resurgent Nick Watney, upstart Cameron Young, and all the rest; they also gave him the cushion he needed to make bogey at the last and still claim a win.

Watney was the next big thing in the early 2010s, until he no longer was. This wasn’t his comeback week, but he sure come close. Young tried to continue the grand Wake Forest tradition of PGA Tour winners; it should come sooner, rather than later. In the end, it was UFlorida’s Burns, who found his way home to a second tour title, and the success that was predicted for him in college.

LPGA: Boutier earns 2nd tour title at ShopRite in Seaview

Celine Boutier has a solid international record when playing team golf. She is a combined 5-1-1 after two Solheim Cup appearances. Now the young woman from France looks to shore up her individual record, and New Jersey gave her just that opportunity. Boutier moved from 10th place to 1st on Sunday with a magical 63. She posted 31 against a 37 par on the outward half, then came home in two-under 32 to reach 14-under par and edge the lofty trio of Brooke Henderson, Jin Young Ko, and Inbee Park by one. Jin and Inbee began the day in a first-place tie, but could not build on their Saturday performances. Instead, it was Henderson (64) and Boutier who made day-three moves to ascend the leader board.

The putt that posted the winning score! ?@celineboutier earns her second Tour win at the @ShopRiteLPGA! ? pic.twitter.com/DOIEuyViSx

— LPGA (@LPGA) October 3, 2021

Champions Tour: Choi claims first senior title at Pebble

It was seven days ago today, that we once again cheered for KJ. The affable former power lifter from Wando became the first Korean to win first prize in a Champions Tour event, and he did so at the expense of the ageless Bernhard Langer and his countryman, Alex Cejka. Choi absolutely lit up the front nine at the pacific paradise, posting five birdies for 31. In the blink of an eye, the magic disappeared, and Choi closed with eight pars and a bogey, but still held on for a two-shot margin of victory. In complete contrast, Langer’s back nine was anything but boring. After a double at the 10th, the Teutonic Titan posted four birdies and a bogey coming home, for an inward 35. Cejka, twice a winner in May, had six birdies on the afternoon, but was undone by bogey at six and eight.

First PGA TOUR Champions win ?
First TOUR win since 2011 ?

What a week for K.J. Choi @PUREFirstTee. ? pic.twitter.com/zLxN7NJp97

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 26, 2021